Griddle accessory



Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE GRIDDLE ACCESSORY Alfraidnili, Vernon, Tex. I Application October 8, 1948, Serial No. 53,495

My invention relates to accessories for cooking griddles. As is well known, in cooking a comestible, such as steaks, chops or the like, on a grill or a griddle, it is customary to sear the comestible on both sides prior to cooking it for a predetermined period of time upon each side. This well known practice requires the turning of the comestible at least twice and is a relatively slow cooking process.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved griddle accessory which provides for searing of the comestible on both sides simultaneously and likewise the grilling of the same on both sides simultaneously, whereby to materially reduce the cooking time and to more effectively seal the juices in the comestible.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an accessory to the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line dl of Figure 1, but showing the parts in a different position.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, It] designates generally the accessory ac cording to the invention, which comprises a housing having a top wall I I and continuous side walls !2 terminating in free lower edges l3 adapted to rest atop any suitable griddle or grill, not shown. The housing It is open at the bottom and en closes a weight M which is substantially complementary to the shape of the interior of the housing and which is formed with a fiat under surface [5. The weight I4 is mounted for vertical sliding movement inwardly of the housing to and. from the position shown in Figure 3, Where it rests atop the griddle to be heated by the latter, and the position shown in Figure 4, where it rests atop a comestible, not shown, enclosed by the housing and resting atop the griddle.

1 Claim. (01. 99-349) 2 Ifhus, by allowing, the under surface is of the weight It to rest atop a griddle for a period of time while the griddle is being heated, the weight M becomes heated to the same extent as the griddle. Thereafter, the housing I0 is removed from the griddle and the comestible placed thereon. The housing In is now placed about the comestible so that the under surface l5 of the plate or weight l4 rests atop the comestible. Thus, the comestible is seared simultaneously on both sides by the griddle and by the under surface of the weight [4. Likewise, by virtue of the enclosing sides l2, the comestible is cooked on both sides simultaneously as heat is transferred to the weight 14 in sufficient quantities to maintain the same in a heated condition. Thus, the enclosed comestible is rapidly cooked with a minimum of juice loss.

To mount the weight I4 in any housing Ill, there has been provided a pair of studs iii, the lower ends of which are threaded into the upper part of the Weight [4. The studs I6 comprise guide rods which are vertically slidable through oversize openings l1 formed in the closed lower ends of a pair of tubular guides IS. The lower ends of the guides it may be exteriorly threaded, as at l9, for threaded engagement in complementary holes formed in the top wall H of the housing. The guide rods to may be provided with heads 20 providing limit stops for limiting downward sliding movement of the rods relative to the guides 18. Likewise, the guides l8 preferably include expansive coil springs 2| engageable with the heads 20 for loading the guide rods l6 and the weight M for downward sliding movement to the Figure 3 position. The upper ends of the guides l8 are preferably closed by screw plugs 22 threaded therein which likewise comprise means for attaching any suitable handle 23 to the guides l8. Because of the loose fit of the weight M in the housing It, and also on account of the oversize holes ll in the lower ends of the guides I8, the interiors of the guides it! are in open communication with the interior of the housing. To provide means for venting steam from the interior of the housing, the guides 18 are each provided with one or more laterallydirected steam vents 24.

At the same time, by locating the vents 24 remotely of the griddle, the majority of the steam will condense before reaching the vents whereby to baste the meat while it is being cooked.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the with laterally-directed steam vents, a handle fixed to said guides in upwardly-spaced relation to and parallel to said top wall, said under surface of said weight being adapted at times to rest atop the griddle to be heated thereby and at times to rest atop a comestible on said griddle enclosed by said housing.

ALFRED C. HILL.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ;fil e of this patent:

g'uide rods fixed on said weight and extending upwardly thereof, a pair of spaced and parallel,

tubular guides fixed to-said top wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said guide 'rodsbeing slidable in said guides, springs in said guides arranged to urge said guide rods downwardly, said guides being in open communication with theinterior of said housing, said guides being formed UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,624,214 Cannon Apr. 12, 1927 1,856,564 Kipper May 3, 1932 1,962,877 Roth et al June 12, 1934 2,040,676 Stevens et al May 12, 1936 2,423,963 Cofiman July 15, 1947 

